Apparatus for cleaning a rotating brush

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cleaning a rotating brush, especially at a textile machine, comprising a movable cleaning comb in operable engagement with the brush and a stripper operatively associated with the cleaning comb and movable relative thereto. Drive means serve to produce the movements between the cleaning comb and brush and between the stripper and cleaning comb. Pneumatic means lead away the stripped-off contaminants.

United States Patent 1 Sutter Dec. 30, 1975 [54] APPARATUS FOR CLEANING A ROTATING BRUSH [75] Inventor: I-Ianspeter Sutter, Uster, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Luwa AG, Zurich, Switzerland {22] Filed: Feb. 6, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 547,712

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 15, 1974 Switzerland 2128/74 [52] US. Cl 15/21 D; 15/256.5; l5/256.5l [51] Int. Cl. A46B 13/02 [.58] Field of Search 15/4, 38, 39, 40, 48, 256.5, 15/256.51, 256.52, 256.53, 301, 312 R, 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,847,718 8/1958 Dudley 15/256.52

2,960,714 11/1960 Senn 15/48 X 3,534,427 10/1970 Severynse 15/301 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 29,279 4/1884 Germany 15/256.51

Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or FirmWerner W. Kleeman [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for cleaning a rotating brush, especially at a textile machine, comprising a movable cleaning comb in operable engagement with the brush and a stripper operatively associated with the cleaning comb and movable relative thereto. Drive means serve to produce the movements between the cleaning comb and brush and between the stripper and cleaning comb. Pneumatic means lead away the stripped-off contaminants.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING A ROTATING BRUSH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of apparatus for cleaning a rotating brush, especially at a textile machine, in a highly efficient, reliable and time saving manner.

In consideration of the fact that the manual removal of contaminants from such cleaning brushes at the very least is bothersome apart from being dangerous to the health of the operating personnel and comparatively time-consuming, it is a further and more specific object of this invention to provide apparatus for cleaning such cleaning brushes wherein the contaminants or other foreign materials can be effectively removed from the brush and means employed for removing the contaminants can be maintained in an operational condition without any manual cleaning operation.

The solution of these objectives as contemplated by the invention generally is manifested by the features that there is employed a cleaning comb which upon engaging between the bristles of the rotating brush catches or entraps the contaminants and the like. Additionally, the solution as proposed by the invention emanates from the consideration that for the removal of the contaminants from the cleaning comb the latter must be brought out of operable engagement with the brush, and apart from a mechanical detachment of the contaminants from the cleaning comb there should be provided a pneumatic removal or transporting away of such detached contaminants.

Bearing the foregoing in mind it is to be appreciated and recognized that the apparatus of the invention which solves the previously enumerated objectives is characterized by the features of a movable cleaning comb in engagement with the brush and a relatively movable stripper operatively associated with the cleaning comb. There are also provided drive means in order to produce the movements between the cleaning comb and brush and between the stripper and cleaning comb and pneumatic means for conducting away the stripped-off contaminants.

According to a preferred physical manifestation of the invention it is contemplated, apart from the rotating cleaning brush, to only drive the cleaning comb and the detachment of the contaminants or the like from the cleaning comb is effectuated by virtue of the movement of the cleaning comb relative to the stripper during such time as the cleaning comb is moved out of engagement with the cleaning brush. Although it would be for instance possible to arrange the stripper to be stationary at a location neighboring the path of movement of the cleaning comb, according to a preferred constructional embodiment of the invention it is contemplated to cause the stripper to carry out a rocking or pivotal motion which brings its stripper edge together with the tips of the needles of the cleaning comb into the direct effective zone or operable region of the pneumatic means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the cleaning apparatus of this development together with part of a traveling blower; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawing, and referring particularly initially to FIG. 1, it is to be understood that reference character 10 generally designates a conventional traveling blower which has only been shown in part and in sectional view since a more comprehensive illustration is unnecessary for the understanding of the underlying concepts of this invention. The traveling blower 10, which is moved along a not more fully illustrated path of travel, and specifically an approximately horizontal path of travel, serves for the pneumatic cleaning of parts of one or a number of textile machines which have not been shown to preserve clarity in illustration. Further, traveling blower 10 will be seen to possess a downwardly directed filter means, here shown in the form of a filter sieve or screen 1 1, through which there is sucked-up ambient air by means of a ventilator or fan 12 arranged in the traveling blower 10. During operation of the ventilator 12 the contaminants or the like contained in the sucked-up air during its entry into the traveling blower 10 tend to deposit at the underside or lower face of the filter sieve 11.

Now in order to be able to periodically free the filter sieve or screen 11 from the collected contaminants, typically for instance fibers and dust, the path of travel of the traveling blower 10 extends over a rotating cleaning brush 14 with the bristles 18 of brush 14 contacting the filter sieve 11. In this way the contaminants adhering to the filter means can be removed therefrom by the cleaning action of the rotating brush 14. Now it is the purpose of the inventive apparatus to clean the brush 14 so that this component in turn remains functionally reliable.

As readily apparent by referring to FIG. 1 the cleaning apparatus encompasses a cleaning or cleaner comb generally designated by reference character 20. The cleaning comb 20 consists of a comb spine or back portion 22 and a row or series of comb needles 23 or equivalent structure. The cleaning comb 20 is pivotably supported through the agency of the pivot pins or journals 24 in bearing or support plates 25, only one of which has been shown in the drawing, and such cleaning comb is operatively connected with a suitable drive 40, for instance a drive motor. Now it is possible by means of the drive 40 to rock or pivot the cleaning comb 20 from the depicted solid line working position,

3 where the comb needles 23 engage from below between the bristles 18 of the brush l4 and assume an approximately tangential positional orientation with respect to the brush core 16, into the cleaning position indicated in phantom lines.

A stripper or scraper 26 having a stripper edge 30 bears by means of the latter at the comb needles 23 of the cleaning comb 20. The stripper 26, which is pivotably mounted at the pivot location 28 between the bearing or support plates 25, is subjected to the action of a tension spring 32 which retains stripper 26 in contact with cleaning comb 20. Now it is to be appreciated that under the action of the pivoting cleaning comb the stripper 26 is also pivoted out of the full or solid line rest position depicted in FIG. 1 and specifically is pivotably moved through a working path of travel into a terminal position which has been shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. In this end or terminal position the stripper 26, by means of its stripper edge 30, reaches the free ends 34 (FIG. 1) of the comb needles 23. Consequently, it will be understood that the stripper edge and the free ends 34 of the cone needles are then located at the neighborhood of a suction mouthpiece 36 which is advantageously of elongate construction and extends parallel to the pivot axes of the cleaning comb 20 and the stripper 26 and which last-mentioned pivot axes in turn are in parallelism with one another.

As indicated in the drawing, the suction mouthpiece 36 forms an inlet into a suction channel or duct 46. A ventilator or fan 44 which is effective within the channel 46 generates an air flow which is directed into the suction mouthpiece 36 and such air flow wipingly contacts the tips or free ends 34 of the comb needles 23 and the stripper edge 30 of the stripper 26.

The ventilator 44, the drive motor 40 as well as a motor 48 for the drive of the brush 14 are all controlled by a control device 42 which switches-in and switchesoff the corresponding motors in a predetermined sequence, and specifically for instance as a function of the throughpassage or travel of the traveling blower 10.

When the traveling blower 10, as it moves along its defined path of travel, approaches the cleaning apparatus of the invention as discussed above, then in not particularly illustrated manner the control unit or device 42 is placed into operation which, in turn, places into operation the drive motor 48 for the brush 14 as well as preferably also the ventilator 44 or the like. Consequently, the brush 14 now assumes its rotational mode when the traveling blower has reached the cleaning apparatus and the coating formed of fibers and dust which adheres to the filter sieve or screen 11 is removed by the brush 14. Upon rotation of the brush [4 in the clockwise direction the contaminants which are entrained thereby are guided to the location of the comb needles 23 of the cleaning comb 20, and specifically at the side of the comb needles confronting the suction mouthpiece 36. A part of the contaminants which have been stripped-off of the bristles 18 of the brush 14 by the comb needles arrive at the region of the air flow directed towards the suction mouthpiece 36 and are directly delivered to the channel 46 and a not particularly illustrated collecting device or collector operatively connected with such channel or duct 46. Another part or portion of the contaminants, predominantly consisting of fibers, and which has the tendency of fixedly adhering to the bristles 18 is blocked or held back by the comb needles 23 and collects thereat.

4 When the cleaning brush 14 has wipingly contacted the entire surface of the filter sieve or screen 11, then the control device 42 receives a pulse which serves to place into operation the motor drive 40. Now the cleaning comb 20 is pivoted and the comb needles 23 move out of the brush 14 and in turn rock or pivot the stripper 26. Consequently, the stripper edge 30 of the stripper 26 which pivots against the action of the spring 32 slides along the comb needles 23 towards their tips or free ends 34 during such time as the latter reaches the phantom-line illustrated cleaning position. The stripper or scraper edge 30 of the stripper 26 thus scrapes away the fibers adhering to the comb needles 23 in a direction towards the needle tips 34 and thus brings such scraped fibers or the like also into the direct effective zone or operable region of the suction mouthpiece 36. During such time as the scraped-off fibers are seized by the suction air current or flow and delivered away by means of and through the channel or duct 46, the drive 40 again pivots the cleaning comb 20 back into the starting position into which also follows the stripper or scraper 26 under the action of the ten sioned spring 32. Now the drive of the ventilator 44 and the motor 48 are interrupted by the control device 42 until there is to be carried out the next cleaning operation at the filter sieve or screen 11.

If the inventive apparatus is employed in conjunction with a textile machine, then it is possible to combine the suction action for the materials stripped-off the cleaning comb 20 with a pneumatic cleaning of the textile machine. Instead of the provision of a suction mouthpiece 36 at the region of the tips of the cleaning comb 20 in the cleaning position there can be insured that at that location there prevails a sufficiently intensive air current or flow which transports away the stripped-off fibers.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning a rotating brush, especially at a textile machine, comprising a movable cleaning comb operatively engaging with said brush, a relatively movable stripper operatively associated with said cleaning comb, drive means for generating the movements between the cleaning comb and brush and between the stripper and the cleaning comb, and pneumatic means for conducting away strippedoff contaminants.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said brush has an axis of rotation, and means mounting each of said cleaning comb and said stripper to be pivotable about a respective axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleaning comb is equipped with needles having free ends, said brush having bristles, the free ends of said needles extending in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the brush and between the bristles thereof.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said pneumatic means incorporates a suction mouthpiece located in the neighborhood of a common terminal position of the needle free ends and a stripper edge of said stripper.

stripped-off contaminants.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, further including means for mounting said stripper for pivotal movement.

7. The apparatus as cleined in claim 6, further including resilient means acting upon said stripper, pivotal movement of said cleaning comb causing pivotal movement of said stripper against the action of said resilient means. 

1. An apparatus for cleaning a rotating brush, especially at a textile machine, comprising a movable cleaning comb operatively engaging with said brush, a relatively movable stripper operatively associated with said cleaning comb, drive means for generating the movements between the cleaning comb and brush and between the stripper and the cleaning comb, and pneumatic means for conducting away stripped-off contaminants.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said brush has an axis of rotation, and means mounting each of said cleaning comb and said stripper to be pivotable about a respective axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleaning comb is equipped with needles having free ends, said brush having bristles, the free ends of said needles extending in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the brush and between the bristles thereof.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said pneumatic means incorporates a suction mouthpiece located in the neighborhood of a common terminal position of the needle free ends and a stripper edge of said stripper.
 5. An apparatus for cleaning a rotating brush, especially at a textile machine comprising, in combination: a rotating brush, a cleaning comb positioned to engage with said rotating brush for removing contaminants therefrom, means for mounting said cleaning comb for pivotable movement, a stripper for stripping contaminants from said cleaning comb, said cleaning comb and stripper being movable relative to one another, drive means for producing movements between the cleaning comb and brush and between the stripper and cleaning comb, and pneumatic means for transporting away stripped-off contaminants.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, further including means for mounting said stripper for pivotal movement.
 7. The apparatus as deined in claim 6, further including resilient means acting upon said stripper, pivotal movement of said cleaning comb causing pivotal movement of said stripper against the action of said resilient means. 